Recently graduated Lluvia Arellano is the first student athlete in Brownsville IDEA Riverview’s school history to sign with a university to compete in athletics, athletic director and volleyball coach Albert Perez said.
Arellano agreed to join Central Methodist University, a private university in Fayette, Missouri. Arellano will compete with the Eagles in the NAIA.
“I am super excited,” she said. “I am ready to get better and learn from my new teammates. I am motivated because of the opportunity.”
Arellano had offers after the volleyball season finished last winter, but the extra paperwork she needed to turn in for financial aid slowed the process. The opportunity almost disappeared until the Eagles came calling two weeks ago, and now she will leave this Friday for Missouri.
The rollercoaster of emotion going through the recruiting process has motivated the outside hitter, Perez said.
“(Arellano) has worked extremely hard, she is a year-round athlete and plays multiple sports,” Perez said. “Volleyball is her forte. She plays all year, club ball, it is great to see that she gets to play at the next level.”
The outside hitter was able to tour campuses during her time at IDEA Riverview. Staying in various parts of the United States has made her more comfortable in wanting to attend the school in Missouri she said.
Arellano plans to study criminal justice, as she has an interest in the forensic aspects of law enforcement.
Arellano is grateful for her time at Riverview, especially for the bonds and relationships she made with her teammates.
“When she did the signing, we had the volleyball team come in and see her,” Perez said. “They all witnessed that it is possible. ‘If one of our own can do it, why not us?’ They were super proud of her because they know how hard she worked.”
